By Richard Bailey Last updated: 1st July 2009
Ballack: Hoping for success this season
Michael Ballack has warned Chelsea's rivals that they are 'hungry' to succeed at home and abroad this season.
The Blues have not won the Premier League since they secured back-to-back titles in 2006, while they have also fallen short in the UEFA Champions League despite owner Roman Abramovich's desire to rule the continent.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has been drafted in to improve the team's fortunes in Europe and the Italian looks set to name his first signing of the summer in Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for £18million in the next week.
Despite FA Cup triumphs in 2007 and again last season it is the league title and Champions League crown that matter and Ballack is hoping for success in both next term.
"We have to focus on this again, that is for sure," he told Chelsea TV. "We are hungry to win the title back.
"There is also a big target in Europe again, because that is what we want to do as well.
"Chelsea are a big team with a lot of international players, and they want to win the Champions League."
The Stamford Bridge club are also close to completing deals to sign out-of-contract Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and Manchester City forward Daniel Sturridge - with a tribunal set to decide the fee.

Ancelotti won't panic buy
Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
Champions League round-up - Nov 3rd
Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea - Ancelotti
A Madrid 2-2 Chelsea - Drogba
Bolton 0-4 Chelsea - Ancelotti
Bolton 0-4 Chelsea - Megson
Bolton 0-5 Chelsea - Thompson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | FC Porto vs Chelsea |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 2nd December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man City vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 8th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs Apoel Nicosia |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Everton |
| Wednesday 16th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs Portsmouth |
| Sunday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | West Ham vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Birmingham vs Chelsea |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Fulham |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Hull vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Sunderland |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Burnley vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Arsenal |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Everton vs Chelsea |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3rd November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Atletico Madrid 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Wednesday 28th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Bolton | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 5 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Wednesday 21st October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Atletico Madrid | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Sunday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Wednesday 30th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Apoel Nicosia 0 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 3 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 QPR | |
| Sunday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Tuesday 15th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 FC Porto | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 3 - 0 Burnley | |
| Sunday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunday 9th August | |
| FA Community Shield | |
| Chelsea 2 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Reading 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Monday 27th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Club America | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 11 | 27 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Can Chelsea cash in on Man Utd's defensive issues and add to their league lead, asks Andy Gray.
With Didier Drogba in frightening form, Paul Merson expects Chelsea to beat Man Utd on Sunday.
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans says Fernando Torres is harder to defend against than Didier Drogba.
John Terry has defended Didier Drogba's infamous outburst after the Barcelona defeat - saying it was driven by his passion for Chelsea.
John Terry is targeting victory against Man United on Sunday, believing it can provide a 'good cushion' for the Blues' title bid.
Carlo Ancelotti believes his players are at the peak of their careers, with several more good years to come.
Chelsea defender Alex said he has more to give following an injury-prone Premier League season last year.